A Very Odd Malfunction

[45addiction]

I went to the range tonight with my T-Series HP. It was running perfectly until:

I was about half-way through a mag of ammo. I pulled the trigger and......nothing. I looked at the pistol. It appeared to be fully in battery. The hammer was back. A round was in the chamber. I pointed it down range again and pulled the trigger.......nothing. I ejected the mag, ejected the chambered round, inserted the mag, released the slide, pointed and pulled the trigger. It went bang. I had the same malfunction with two different mags through about 100 rounds. I then quit and pulled out my 1911. Something in the slide can't be resetting......sear?........don't know. The pistol does have a C&S hammer and sear but it has never, ever failed to fire. What say you???

[Fa2]

Weak trigger return spring would be my first guess.

[220swiftfn]

Trigger return spring, or gunk keeping the trigger or trigger bar from resetting.... It's definately NOT the sear, if it was, the hammer wouldn't still be cocked...

BTW, does this have an intact mag disconnect?? (And if it doesn't, does it have a 2 coil or a 3 coil trigger spring? Yes, it matters....)


Dan

[45addiction]

Originally Posted by 220swiftfn

Trigger return spring, or gunk keeping the trigger or trigger bar from resetting.... It's definately NOT the sear, if it was, the hammer wouldn't still be cocked...

BTW, does this have an intact mag disconnect?? (And if it doesn't, does it have a 2 coil or a 3 coil trigger spring? Yes, it matters....)


Dan

Well, I went at it pretty hard with CLP and some Hoppies on both the trigger bar (as well as I could get in and under there) and the trigger. There was some build-up in there so we shall see.

The mag disconnect is long gone. It is actually a yost HP with the trigger travel reduction work. The build is from 2010. I would estimate I have fired 2000 rounds through it. The spring spring has to 2 complete coils.

If I want to punch out the pin holding the trigger bar in place, it reassembly pretty easy? I have owned these things for over 20 years and I have never had to touch the trigger bar. You live, you learn.

[220swiftfn]

Originally Posted by 45addiction

Well, I went at it pretty hard with CLP and some Hoppies on both the trigger bar (as well as I could get in and under there) and the trigger. There was some build-up in there so we shall see.

The mag disconnect is long gone. It is actually a yost HP with the trigger travel reduction work. The build is from 2010. I would estimate I have fired 2000 rounds through it. The spring spring has to 2 complete coils.

If I want to punch out the pin holding the trigger bar in place, it reassembly pretty easy? I have owned these things for over 20 years and I have never had to touch the trigger bar. You live, you learn.

Sorry, to clarify..... I was thinking of the disconnector that is part of the trigger assembly, but junk in the transfer bar (in the slide) could cause problems too.... On a T series just drift the roll pin enough to free the bar (I'd pick up a set of roll pin punches, they work well) and have at it. You don't have to worry about the firing pin safety spring like the MkIII, so the only thing you have to worry about is not putting it back in upside down.....


Dan

[stillwater]

I am assuming that when you say "nothing" you mean "no bang" instead of "hammer does not drop" correct? So the hammer drops.

When you removed the chambered round after Fail to Fire, did the primer have a dent in it? If so, how big? Comparable to the ones that went "bang" or was it less?

I agree it could be a number of things but if the hammer did drop, and it did not fire and if the fp indent in the primers (is) shallow you may want to check more than a little bit of the gun.

2000 rounds is not much but it is plenty to make me thing a spring change is in order (recoil and ignition). I might try that first thing just to be sure it isn't just a maintenance issue.

[45addiction]

When I pulled the trigger the hammer would not fall. I could pull the trigger all day long and the hammer didn't move. There has to be some failure in the reset. I actually spoke with Jason at Heirloom yesterday. What a great guy. He basically insisted that I send it in so they can take a look at it and correct anything that may be wrong. I am going to try a new recoil spring first because it is about time anyway. She is a dream to shoot.

[chuntaro]

A new recoil spring will never hurt but I think you might mean or want the trigger spring. Unless gunk is trapping the trigger, the trigger spring is the only one that would have a bearing on whether or not the trigger lever rises. On a stock FN, the sear lever floats pretty freely and can be tested with a tooth pick. I have never examined the Yost mod reset so I do not know if the mod changes that. The beauty of sending your hp back to hp is they will tell you pretty quick the nature of the issue.

[TCOV]

I am fairly new to HP's but you say that your pistol has had " trigger travel reduction work ". On my 1911's with a trigger overtravel screw I have had the screw turn in a little and that will prevent the hammer from dropping. Very frustrating until I figured it out. Now I allow a little leeway on the travel stop and use fingernail polish or blue loctite to keep it in place. I don't know if this relates to your problem but just a thought.

[LastRites]

I wouldn't change a thing and send it in to HP.

[45addiction]

Originally Posted by LastRites

I wouldn't change a thing and send it in to HP.

Yup, looking for a decent 70 Series for about $850 to send with it

Everyone on Gunbroker seems to think these things, even in nicked up condition, should be worth the price of a new one.

Patience is a virtue so I have been told.

[chuntaro]

I just got an 80 back from the plumber. Trigger feels like my 70 but the 80 parts are still installed. I know cuz I looked.

[45addiction]

Originally Posted by chuntaro

I just got an 80 back from the plumber. Trigger feels like my 70 but the 80 parts are still installed. I know cuz I looked.

Your plumber appears to do very nice work.

[Aussie D]

Originally Posted by chuntaro

A new recoil spring will never hurt but I think you might mean or want the trigger spring. Unless gunk is trapping the trigger, the trigger spring is the only one that would have a bearing on whether or not the trigger lever rises. On a stock FN, the sear lever floats pretty freely and can be tested with a tooth pick. I have never examined the Yost mod reset so I do not know if the mod changes that. The beauty of sending your hp back to hp is they will tell you pretty quick the nature of the issue.

Chuntaro,
I agree and think this is logically the most likely area to look at.

All it takes is a little piece of crud affecting the trigger lever or the weak trigger spring to cause grief here.

Cheers,

Aussie D

[chuntaro]

45 addiction:

I like him and we get along. He has remade three nearly new colts and scratch built or assembled a 2011 for me. He is not on the same level as a couple of guys I could think of but I do not need some of the mods that are available these days. He got his start in racing then translated the machine work to the 1911 and moved into manufacturing. You could say he is semi-retired these days.